In a very brief and to-the-point response drafted by City Attorney Tom Hallinan, the City of Oakdale will notify the Stanislaus County Grand Jury that it agrees with the four findings and all four recommendations from a report that criticized the actions of former councilman Jason Howard.

Working in conjunction to reestablish salmon spawning and juvenile salmon rearing areas to the Stanislaus River at Honolulu Bar, Oakdale Irrigation District, FishBio, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Anadromous Fish Restoration Program (AFRP) have put in about $520,000 of shared cost into the habitat restoration project. OID and AFRP split the cost 50/50.

Rural property owners never have a shortage of projects on their to-do list. With this in mind, Tractor Supply Company and GRIT magazine will team up to share their rural know-how in the new television show, "Tough GRIT."

Bring your family and friends and enjoy the largest hot air balloon festival in Central California! The 7th annual Color the Skies festival takes to the skies this Labor Day weekend, Sept.1-2, in Ripon. In a breathtaking ascent, the sky will fill with the color of 20 balloons during the carnival-like festival that donates all proceeds to Children's Hospital Central California.

Oakdale Police are in search of a known 17-year-old suspect who fled the scene leaving behind a sawed-off shotgun and ski mask after officers were called to the area of Stenson Drive and Branding Iron Street on Sunday, Aug 19.

The three-day holiday is a Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP) for the CHP, beginning Friday, Aug. 31, at 6 p.m. through Monday, Sept. 3, at 11:59 p.m. Throughout the MEP, all available officers will be on patrol cracking down on impaired drivers, speeders, and those who are a danger to themselves and others on the state's roadways.

With the loss of its volunteer coordinator and the inability to have a regularly scheduled meeting since June 2011, the Oakdale Parks and Recreation Department is restructuring its youth advisory commission into a youth council.

YES (Youth Entertainment Stage) KIDETTES are seeking students in first through fifth grades to be actors, singers, and dancers for Disney's "Winnie the Pooh KIDS." Open auditions to be held on Wednesday, Aug. 29 at 4p.m. at Johansen High School Theatre. No experience or preparation necessary. All audition materials are provided.

Over a dozen dogs of all sizes, ranging from breeds of Chihuahuas, smooth coat collies, golden retrievers, Bernese mountain dogs, and more pawed their way around Wood Park in Oakdale on Saturday, Aug. 18 for the American Cancer Society's Bark For Life.